Kōtarō Isaka (伊坂幸太郎, Isaka Koutarou) is a Japanese author of mystery fiction.
Isaka was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law faculty of Tohoku University, he worked as a system engineer. Isaka quit his company job and focused on writing after hearing Kazuyoshi Saito's 1997 song "Kōfuku na Chōshoku Taikutsu na Yūshoku", and the two have collaborated several times. In 2000, Isaka won the Shincho Mystery Club Prize for his debut novel Ōdyubon no Inori, after which he became a full-time writer. In 2002, Isaka's novel Lush Life gained much critical acclaim, but it was his Naoki Prize-nominated work Jūryoku Piero (2003) that brought him popular success. His following work Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā won the 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers. Jūryoku Piero (2003), Children (2004), Grasshopper (2004), Shinigami no Seido (2005) and Sabaku (2006) were all nominated for the Naoki Prize. Isaka was the only author in Japan to be nominated for the Hon'ya Taishō in each of the award's first four years, finally winning in 2008 with Golden Slumber. The same work also won the 21st Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.
"Nhưng ở đời, chúng ta thật sự không thể đoán trước được điều gì sẽ trở thành bước ngoặt của cuộc đời."
Quyển này không khác gì so với mấy quyển trước mình đã đọc của Isaka Kotaro, kỳ lạ, cảm động và hài hước. Chỉ có mỗi lúc đầu mình chưa nắm rõ nội dung truyện, càng đọc về sau thì mọi thứ càng rõ, càng thú vị nhưng càng về sau đó mọi thứ quá quen thuộc nên mình có hơi thất vọng.
一首小夜曲 chia làm 6 câu chuyện về những cuộc gặp gỡ. Những cuộc gặp gỡ của các nhân vật trong sáu truyện đều là một điều đặc biệt với họ, từ những cuộc gặp gỡ ta rút ra cho bản thân những bài học cuộc sống, niềm tin, tình yêu và lòng can đảm. Các chi tiết về âm nhạc, thể thao và phim ảnh được lồng vào như một nguồn động lưc trong cuộc sống, nó giống một trò may rủi. Điều mình thích ở quyển này là Isaka đã đưa vào những chi tiết và câu thoại trông kỳ lạ nhưng lại đầy sâu sắc. Mình thích truyện thứ tư "Looks Like", nó không khó đoán nhưng cảm xúc của mình lại bất ngờ, gặp gỡ là tạo ra kỷ niệm - điều này đúng với những nhân vật trong truyện này.
Hài hước và thú vị là thế, nhưng cách thức diễn ra của không khác gì mấy quyển trước của Isaka nên mình không quá ngạc nhiên. Là sáu câu chuyện nhưng những nhân vật trong đó lại lướt qua và đã gặp gỡ nhau - thú vị nhưng quá quen thuộc rồi. Với lại ở truyện cuối mình thấy hơi kiên cưỡng, có thể kết thúc ngắn hơn thế, bù lại vẫn khiến mình thấy ý nghĩa như mấy quyển trước của Isaka.
จะว่าไปแล้วพออ่านจบต้องอุทานว่า "นี่มันเรื่องยาวเรื่องเดียวชัดๆ" ผู้เขียน Kotaro Isaka เขียนนิยายสัญชาติญี่ปุ่น feel good เรื่องยาวเรื่องนี้ออกมาในรูปแบบเรื่องสั้นสไตล์ Short story cycle ที่ใช้เรื่องสั้นแต่ละเรื่องเป็นตัวถ่ายทอดมุมมองที่ต่างกันไป ในเวลาที่ต่างกันไป ต่อเหตุการณ์หรือต่อแกนเรื่องเดียวกัน
ด้วยความที่ผู้เขียน เขียนออกมาด้วยสไตล์ short story cycle แปลว่ายังไงๆ ก็ต้องอ่านตามลำดับ และอ่านทุกเรื่อง ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าไม่ได้ยากลำบากอะไร แต่อันที่จริงกลับสร้างความประหลาดใจมากกว่า เพราะมัน feel good ได้ทุกเรื่องสั้นเลย แถมยังไม่เลี่ยนในความ feel good อีกตะหาก เพราะมักจะมีการหักมุมเล็กๆ น้อยๆ ชวนให้ระทึกบ้าง surprise บ้าง แถมยิ้มมุมปากได้อีก